United Call Issued to IMO for Progress on CO2 Emissions at MEPC 70

Several industry associations are collectively urging IMO to take action on shipping emissions.

Coming ahead of the 70th Session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 70), BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, and the World Shipping Council (WSC) have issued a joint call for IMO member states to take action in addressing shipping's CO2 emissions.

The organisations have put forward a joint industry submission to urge IMO to finalise the adoption of a global CO2 data collection system for international shipping, which the group says will act as a precursor for the consideration next steps in addressing the sector's CO2 emissions.

"In particular, the industry associations will be requesting MEPC 70 to agree to develop a roadmap which would include a timeline for the completion of this important work, which the submission describes – although the industry is flexible about the precise terminology – as determining a 'fair share contribution' towards reducing the world's total CO2 emissions, of which international shipping is currently responsible for about 2.2 percent," explained the joint statement.

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The group says... it is of the "utmost importance" that MEPC 70 makes significant progress to agree on a timeline for consideration of next steps

The group says it is united in stressing that it is of the "utmost importance" that MEPC 70 makes significant progress to agree on a timeline for consideration of next steps, enabling IMO to provide a positive report at the 22nd UNFCCC Conference of Parties COP 22, set for Marrakesh from November 7.

"The industry's submission to MEPC 70 is intended to demonstrate that shipping is responding responsibly to global climate change, and that IMO is the only competent authority for addressing shipping's CO2 emissions," concluded the statement.